If one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to exercise more, you’re on the right track. Recent research with mice has uncovered numerous benefits of exercise, including flushing out brain toxins, reversing age-related changes in the brain, preventing DNA damage, reversing fat buildup, and more. Here are some of the key benefits of exercise based on recent research.
Reduce Fat Buildup in Tissues
Aging is accompanied by numerous physiological changes, some of which can have profound implications for health and longevity. Among these changes is the buildup of a lipid called bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP) in muscle tissue, a phenomenon recently identified in both aging mice and humans. BMP has been associated with various health conditions, including chronic kidney disease and vascular disorders, suggesting it may serve as a marker for age-related changes.
A recent study in mice by researchers at the University of Amsterdam found that BMP in tissues significantly increases with age. This finding aligns with evidence from human muscle biopsies, suggesting a conserved age-related process.
To investigate potential interventions, the researchers implemented a resistance exercise regimen in aging male mice and found that exercise effectively reduced BMP levels in their muscle tissue, leading to various metabolic benefits.
While these findings emphasize the role of exercise in modulating age-related physiological changes, the mechanisms driving BMP accumulation remain unclear. Future research in animal models is needed to determine whether BMP buildup contributes to aging-related diseases or serves as an adaptive response, paving the way for targeted strategies to address age-associated health challenges.
Reduce Alzheimer’s Symptoms
A recent study from Brazil explored the impact of resistance training, such as weightlifting, on cognitive health using male mouse models. Resistance training is already known to improve bone, muscle, and overall health, but its potential effects on brain function and dementia prevention are less understood.
The researchers studied mice with a genetic mutation that promotes beta-amyloid plaque buildup in the brain—a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Over four weeks, one group of these mice performed resistance exercises by climbing a ladder with weights attached to their tails, while control groups remained sedentary.
Postmortem analysis revealed that the exercising mice had fewer beta-amyloid plaques in the hippocampus, the brain region associated with memory. Additionally, they exhibited increased microglial cells, which help clear these plaques.
The study also found that resistance training reduced stress levels. Blood tests showed normal levels of corticosterone (the mouse equivalent of cortisol), which is significant because elevated cortisol has been linked to Alzheimer’s risk in humans. Behavioral observations revealed that the exercising mice were less agitated, suggesting improved mental well-being.
While these findings are promising, limitations exist. The study involved only male mice of a specific age, which may not represent broader populations. Although more research is needed, this study adds to growing evidence that resistance training may support cognitive health and help combat age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Prevent DNA Damage
A recent study from the University of Utah explored the link between exercise, DNA damage, and cardiovascular health in mice.
The researchers found that increased physical activity was associated with reduced DNA damage and improved telomere function in endothelial cells, which line blood vessels. Telomeres, protective caps on chromosomes, are linked to biological aging and are particularly vulnerable to damage caused by blood flow stress.
The study categorized mice into high, moderate, and low activity levels based on their voluntary running distance. The results indicated that mice with higher activity levels had less DNA damage and better telomere function in endothelial cells, suggesting that exercise has a protective effect of on vascular health.
Although limited by its small sample size, lack of female subjects, and differences between mice and humans, the study contributes to understanding how exercise may combat age-related cardiovascular decline by minimizing DNA damage and preserving telomere integrity. Further research could help refine interventions for improving heart health as we age.
Reverse Age-Related Brain Changes
Regular physical activity offers significant benefits for maintaining strength and protecting against illness and injury as we age, including safeguarding brain health. A study by researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia found that exercise can slow or prevent cognitive decline in mice by positively affecting specific brain cells.
In the study, exercise reversed aging-related changes in microglia, the brain’s immune cells, making them resemble those in younger mice. It also reduced the presence of T cells, which increase in the aging hippocampus, a region crucial for memory and learning.
While these findings are based on mice, they provide valuable insights that could guide future research into combating brain aging in humans.
Flush Out Brain Toxins
New research from Imperial College London’s UK Dementia Research Institute suggests that being active may help the brain clear toxins more effectively than sleeping.
Scientists found that mice brains were 30% less efficient at removing waste during sleep compared to when awake, and under anesthesia, clearance slowed by 50%. This challenges the long-held belief that sleep is primarily used for flushing out harmful molecules via the glymphatic system.
The study also highlights that the size and type of molecules may influence how toxins are cleared. While sleep remains essential for overall health, researchers are now exploring why brain clearance slows during sleep and whether these findings apply to humans.
This research could offer new insights into dementia and the benefits of staying active for brain health.
